Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Bank/Finance Jobs

Micro Finance OfficersCARE Kenya (to be based in Dadaab, Garissa)Must have business, commerce or economics degree and 3 years experience at a credit institution. CPA, ACCA or CIMA qualification would be an advantage. Apply by Feb 28th to The Human Resource & Development Manager, CARE International in Kenya, P. O. Box 43864-00100

Commercial OfficerFrench Economic DepartmentMust be university graduate, fluent is French, English and Swahili, with 5 years experience and aged 28 – 35. Complete CV in French language and apply by 1st March to French Economic Department in Kenya, P. O. Box 30374-00100 or e-mail nairobi@missioneco.org

Chief Financial Officer/Financial ControllerAt an award winning manufacturer and exporter of jams and juicesShould have 10 years in food processing industry, CPA, CA or ACCA qualification, and must be presently heading a finance & accounts department. Apply to The Advertiser, P. O. Box 1165-00606, or e-mail manguru@manguruplus.com / afrisuccess@yahoo.com by Feb 28th

Sports Stadia Management BoardApply by March 2 to The Chief Executive, Sports Stadia Management Board, Private Bag – Kasarani, Nairobi for the following two positions: (i) Deputy Director - Finance, Human Resources & Administration (Ref: DD/F&A/037/SB2)Must have MBA, CPA and 8 years senior management experience. (ii) Assistant Director - Business Development (Ref: AD/BD/038/SB3)Must have business degree (marketing option), 5 years experience and good knowledge of IT

Graduate Management TraineesPostal Corporation of KenyaMust be fresh university graduates, and aged below 26 years. Will train in various departments for up to 2 years, after which they will be appointed to management jobs. Apply by March 19th, to The Postmaster General, General Management Training Program, Postal Corporation Of Kenya, P. O. Box 34567-00100 Nairobi

Mesothelioma is a form ofcancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to Asbestos.In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, aprotective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Itsmost common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internalchest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining ofthe abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac thatsurrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop Mesothelioma have worked onjobs where they inhaled Asbestos particles, or theyhave been exposedto Asbestos dust andfiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of afamily member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at riskfor developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is noassociation between Mesothelioma and smoking.Compensation via Asbestosfunds or lawsuits is an important issue inmesothelioma (see Asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of Mesothelioma includeshortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lungand the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such asweight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CTscan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopicexamination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into thechest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction ofsubstances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (calledpleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressingon the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy orsometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Researchabout screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma isongoing.Symptoms of Mesotheliomamay not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to Asbestos.Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to anaccumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms ofpleuralMesothelioma

Symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma include weightloss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (abuildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms ofperitoneal Mesotheliomamay include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia,and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to otherparts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, orswelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by Mesothelioma or by other,less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affectsthe pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

chest wall painpleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lungshortness of breathfatigue or anemiawheezing, hoarseness, or coughblood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individualmay develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease maymetastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptomsuntil they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

abdominal painascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomena mass in the abdomenproblems with bowel functionweight lossIn severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitisdisseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severebleeding in many body organsjaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skinlow blood sugar levelpleural effusionpulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungssevere ascitesA Mesothelioma does notusually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumorsare usually found only on one side of the lungs.Diagnosing Mesotheliomais often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of anumber of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of thepatient's medical history. A history of exposure to Asbestos mayincrease clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examinationis performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests.The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestosexposure and increases suspicion of Mesothelioma A CT (or CAT)scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid ispresent, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid isaspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleuraltap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drainand in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absenceof malignant cells on cytology does not completely excludemesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if analternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, abiopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of Mesothelioma A doctorremoves a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by apathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending onwhere the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, thedoctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makesa small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tubecalled a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopyallows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy.To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision inthe abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominalcavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensivediagnostic surgery may be necessaryThe mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidalcells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the bodyincluding the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Depositionof asbestos fibres in the parenchyma of the lung may result in thepenetration of the visceral pleura from where the fibre can then becarried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development ofmalignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to thedevelopment of peritoneal Mesothelioma remainunresolved, although it has been proposed that Asbestos fibres fromthe lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via thelymphatic system. Additionally, Asbestos fibres may bedeposited inthe gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with Asbestos fibres.

Pleural contamination with Asbestos or other mineralfibres has beenshown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue Asbestos,amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers"(chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[6] However, there is nowevidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the largerfibers. They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled,and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probablywill find out a lot more about the health aspects of Asbestos from[the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein,chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-LongIsland Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for"World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from briefexposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.

Mesothelioma developmentin rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation ofphosphorylated chrysotile fibres. It has been suggested that inhumans, transport of fibres to the pleura is critical to thepathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observedrecruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells ofthe immune system to localised lesions of accumulated asbestos fibresin the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesionscontinued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the diseaseprogressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in amorphologically malignant tumour.

Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a completecarcinogen with the development of Mesothelioma occurring insequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecularmechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normalmesothelial cells by Asbestos fibres remainunclear despite thedemonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete invitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignantphenotype following exposure to asbestos fibres has not yet beenachieved. In general, asbestos fibres are thought to act throughdirect physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium inconjunction with indirect effects following interaction withinflammatory cells such as macrophages.

Analysis of the interactions between Asbestos fibres and DNA hasshownthat phagocytosed fibres are able to make contact with chromosomes,often adhering to the chromatin fibres or becoming entangled withinthe chromosome. This contact between the Asbestos fibre and thechromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can inducecomplex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy ofchromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structuralrearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA intotarget cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutationsand oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genesActivation of oncogenesActivation of proto-oncogenes due to incorporation of foreign DNAcontaining a promoter regionActivation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to errorActivation of telomerasePrevention of apoptosisAsbestos fibers have been shown to alter the function and secretoryproperties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favourthe development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis,macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which arenormal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, thesefree radicals are also known clastogenic and membrane-active agentsthought to promote Asbestos carcinogenicity.These oxidants canparticipate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectlyinteracting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events,including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidantdefences.

Asbestos also may possessimmunosuppressive properties. For example,chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitroproliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral bloodlymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantlyreduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery.Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages mayresult in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such asplatelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factorwhich in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation ofmesothelial cells after injury by Asbestos fibres

IncidenceAlthough reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years,mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence rate isapproximately one per 1,000,000. The highest incidence is found inBritain, Australia and Belgium: 30 per 1,000,000 per year.[7] Forcomparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lungcancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignantMesothelioma currentlyranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Westernnations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of thepopulations during the past several decades.[8] It has been estimatedthat incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the UnitedStates in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in otherparts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs moreoften in men than in women and risk increases with age, but thisdisease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximatelyone fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.

Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people wereoccupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States [4]. Between1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis ofpleural Mesothelioma inCaucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from Mesothelioma in the USAincreased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times morelikely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate,since it is possible that many cases of Mesothelioma aremisdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult todifferentiate from mesothelioma.

Risk factorsWorking with Asbestos isthe major risk factor for Mesothelioma A history ofAsbestos exposure existsin almost all cases. However, Mesothelioma has beenreported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.In rare cases, Mesothelioma has also beenassociated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide(Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such aserionite.

Asbestos is the name of agroup of minerals that occur naturally asmasses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thinthreads and woven. Asbestos has been widelyused in many industrialproducts, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooringproducts, textiles, and insulation. If tiny Asbestos particles floatin the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may beinhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. Inaddition to Mesothelioma,exposure to Asbestosincreases the risk of lung cancer, Asbestos (anoncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as thoseof the larynx and kidney.

The combination of smoking and Asbestos exposuresignificantlyincreases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lungcancer, bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes usedasbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the1950s and some cases of Mesothelioma have resulted.Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk ofmesothelioma.

Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactorin the development of Mesothelioma ExposureAsbestos was known inantiquity, but it wasn't mined and widely usedcommercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased duringWorld War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers havebeen exposed to Asbestosdust. Initially, the risks associated withAsbestos exposure werenot publicly known. However, an increased riskof developing Mesothelioma was later foundamong shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills,producers of Asbestosproducts, workers in the heating andconstruction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S.Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits foracceptable levels of Asbestos exposure in theworkplace, and createdguidelines for engineering controls and respirators, protectiveclothing, exposure monitoring, hygiene facilities and practices,warning signs, labeling, recordkeeping, and medical exams. Bycontrast, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE)states formally that any threshold for Mesothelioma must be at avery low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold doesexist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practicalpurposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such thresholdexists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protectiveequipment to lower their risk of exposure. Recent findings have shownthat a mineral called erionite has been known to cause geneticallypre-dispositioned individuals to have malignant Mesothelioma rates muchhigher than those not pre-dispositioned genetically. A study inCappadocia, Turkey has shown that 3 villiages in Turkey have deathrates of 51% attributed to erionite related mesothelioma.

OccupationalExposure to Asbestosfibres has been recognised as an occupationalhealth hazard since the early 1900s. Several epidemiological studieshave associated exposure to Asbestos with thedevelopment of lesionssuch as Asbestos bodiesin the sputum, pleural plaques, diffusepleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx,gastrointestinal tumours, and diffuse Mesothelioma of the pleuraand peritoneum.

The documented presence of Asbestos fibres in watersupplies and foodproducts has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-termand, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to thesefibres. Although many authorities consider brief or transient exposureto asbestos fibres as inconsequential and an unlikely risk factor,some epidemiologists claim that there is no risk threshold. Cases ofMesothelioma have beenfound in people whose only exposure was breathing the air throughventilation systems. Other cases had very minimal (3 months or less)direct exposure.

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurredbetween 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the minereported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years aftercrocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to Mesothelioma had occurred by1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had beenreported in Western Australia.

Paraoccupational secondary exposureFamily members and others living with Asbestos workers have anincreased risk of developing Mesothelioma and possiblyother Asbestos relateddiseases. This risk may be the result ofexposure to Asbestos dustbrought home on the clothing and hair ofasbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members toasbestos fibres, Asbestosworkers are usually required to shower andchange their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Asbestos in buildingsMany building materials used in both public and domestic premisesprior to the banning of Asbestos may containasbestos. Thoseperforming renovation works or DIY activities may expose themselves toasbestos dust. In the UK use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned at theend of 1999. Brown and blue Asbestos was banned in theUK around 1985.Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain Asbestosmaterials. Environmental exposuresIncidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populationsliving near naturally occurring asbestos. For example, in Cappadocia,Turkey, an unprecedented Mesothelioma epidemic caused50% of all deaths in three small villages. Initially, this wasattributed to erionite, however, recently, it has been shown thaterionite causes mesothelioma mostly in families with a geneticpredispositionTreatment of malignant Mesothelioma usingconventional therapies in combination with radiation and orchemotherapy on stage I or II Mesothelioma have proved onaverage 74.6 percent successful in extending the patients life span byfive years or more [commonly known as remission][this percentage mayincreases or decrease depending on date of discovery / stage ofmalignant development] (Oncology Today, 2009). Treatment course isprimarily determined by the staging or development. This is unliketraditional treatment such as surgery by itself which has proved onlybe 16.3 percent likely to extend a patients life span by five years ormore [commonly known as remission]. Clinical behavior of themalignancy is affected by several factors including the continuousmesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors localmetastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue andother organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latencyperiod between Asbestosexposure and development of the disease

Really a useful blog for everyone. But Job trend has changed nowadays as most of them are looking for high paying jobs. There are lots of jobs in Bangalore since many companies are in need of smart employers with adequate knowledge